Unit Leader conference to start MB

[Armymutt]

Who can initiate a MB for a Scout?  The G2A says "unit leader".  Is the the SM, CC, ASM?  What if the SM doesn't want the Scout to start the MB?  I was planning on holding an orienteering session for First Class rank on Monday because we have several Scouts who are out of school while their parents have work.  Our campout plans for this weekend have been changed due to the original campsite having problems.  Now the focus will be on First Class orienteering, cook, first aid, etc.  I figure then we'll just make Monday a little more in-depth and do Orienteering MB.  I'm an ASM and Orienteering MB counselor.  Another ASM is joining me out at the site.  Does the SM need to say that the Scouts who come can do the MB, or can one of us give the green light?

[qwazse]

It’s not about class attendance. It’s about assigning a counselor who will go over all of the requirements with the scout (and a buddy or two) and review how the scout performed each requirement.

Any scout may take your class and try your course. But most won’t take the time to meet with you and actually earn the merit badge.

It’s really between you and the SM how to handle that 1st step. If the SM agrees that any scout coming to your course deserves a blue card with his signature, let him know who attends. If the SM needs scouts to be a little more intentional, then tell the scouts to talk to him about getting a blue card.

This will free you up to focus on the training you want to deliver.

[DuctTape]

I would use the campout as the learning and practice ground for the skills, and then the folloeing meeting to individually "test" for the sign-offs. Especially considering all the other activities of a campout.

As you know, the individually testing of the scouts takes some time.

After which, mention to the scout that you also counsel the orienteering mB, and if they are interested to see the SM for a blue card.

 

[InquisitiveScouter]

Guide to Advancement (G2A), Para 7.0.0.3, (Emphasis added with boldface.) "Any registered Scout, or qualified Venturer or Sea Scout, may work on the requirements for any merit badge at any time. However, before working with a counselor or attending a group or virtual merit badge opportunity, a Scout must meet with their unit leader or their delegate. This is the leader’s opportunity to give guidance on the wisdom of pursuing a selected badge, to advise the Scout on how work might be approached and what may be encountered along the way. It is also the time to provide the names and contact information for one or more approved counselors. The best outcome, however, is that a growth-oriented, positive dialog occurs that provides inspiration and direction in a Scout’s life and even leads to conversations about talents and interests, goal setting, and the concept of “challenge by choice.” The benefits can be much like those of a well-done Scoutmaster conference. It must be noted that this meeting is a required part of the merit badge process, and that it should be documented either by the unit leader’s signature (or their delegate’s) on the Application for Merit Badge (blue card) or in Scoutbook Plus or other method. Even though a leader may voice concerns about a particular Scout pursuing a particular merit badge, it is the Scout’s decision whether or not to proceed. Units must not impose rank or age requirements for merit badge work."

https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf

Who can initiate a MB for a Scout?  The G2A is clear that the Scout initiates the MB.  This is not the role of a unit leader.

Is the the SM, CC, ASM?  It is the SM, or any delegate.  Ideally, this would be an ASM, but the G2A does not specify who qualifies as a delegate.

What if the SM doesn't want the Scout to start the MB?  Suck it up, cupcake.  You can advise the Scout of your concerns, but you cannot prohibit them from working on the MB.

Does the SM need to say that the Scouts who come can do the MB, or can one of us give the green light?  No.  There is no "green light" to work on a merit badge... But, an interaction between a unit leader (delegate) and Scout MUST occur before the Scout meets with a counselor.  The reference for the Scout on this is the Scout Handbook (because the Scout is not responsible for the G2A.  But, you are.) Page 416 in my edition.  In step 1., the Scout has this instruction: "Talk with your Scoutmaster about your interest.  He or she will help you find a merit badge counselor..."  The first sentence cited is an imperative, a non-negotiable requirement... a command.

Hope this helps...

BTW...  we have Scouts with multiple partials who never finish work on merit badges before turning 18.  That's OK.  How many partials can a Scout have? 141, or however many merit badges there are on the list 😜 Bad practice, and not what we are after, but that is your burden as an SM to bear... working with youth who may be scatterbrained and unfocused.  Advise and mentor, but when they don't take your advice, it is not a reflection on you.

 

 

[qwazse]

Regarding orienteering in general: the only way to master it is to constantly have opportunities that necessitate using it.

1. Several months of orienteering races where scouts pair up and compete for accuracy and time.

2. Land navigation hikes where destinations have multiple choices.

3. Bridge building and other distance:height measurement challenges.

4. Map study: route planning for trips.

5. Dead drop ingredients for meals/dessert. Give headings to find them.

The possibilities are endless once enough of them have earned the badge.

[Armymutt]

The problem is getting these kids to actually have an imagination and want to do things.  After our last meeting, I was ready to throw in the towel.  I've been trying to coordinate extra activities for Scouts who want to Scout.  This includes things like a hike in the local state park, the orienteering day at the local council camp, participating in the council's winter merit badge camp, etc.  I was told that those distract from the planned program activities of one campout/activity a month.  Youth leaders feel that they can use those extra activities to count as their leadership time instead of attending the official activities.  Also mentioned was the pulling of adults from the official activities to man the extras.  Now, the only adults I've had for the extras are myself and another ASM who is retired and taking care of his grandson.  That's why he's in Scouting and I recruited him.  I also was told that I shouldn't be serving as the collection point of money to pay for events that require registration as a troop.  Frankly, I think I'm capable of handling finances better than the treasurer who can't give me a statement of the accounting after being asked a month ago and who is bewildered by popcorn sales.    The final straw was when the SPL announced that there would be no meeting on the 11th due to Veterans Day and a large portion of the troop cheered.  Kind of a sign that my efforts are being wasted here.  Somewhere along the way, Scouting went from an activity that kids wanted to join to something parents forced them into in order to check a block on the way to college.  

[Tron]

Dude, a lot of what you have been posting just cumulatively sounds like the troop wants to do things a certain way to throttle back higher achieving scouts. 

[InquisitiveScouter]

52 minutes ago, Armymutt said:

The problem is getting these kids to actually have an imagination and want to do things.  After our last meeting, I was ready to throw in the towel.  I've been trying to coordinate extra activities for Scouts who want to Scout.  This includes things like a hike in the local state park, the orienteering day at the local council camp, participating in the council's winter merit badge camp, etc.  I was told that those distract from the planned program activities of one campout/activity a month.  Youth leaders feel that they can use those extra activities to count as their leadership time instead of attending the official activities.  Also mentioned was the pulling of adults from the official activities to man the extras.  Now, the only adults I've had for the extras are myself and another ASM who is retired and taking care of his grandson.  That's why he's in Scouting and I recruited him.  I also was told that I shouldn't be serving as the collection point of money to pay for events that require registration as a troop.  Frankly, I think I'm capable of handling finances better than the treasurer who can't give me a statement of the accounting after being asked a month ago and who is bewildered by popcorn sales.    The final straw was when the SPL announced that there would be no meeting on the 11th due to Veterans Day and a large portion of the troop cheered.  Kind of a sign that my efforts are being wasted here.  Somewhere along the way, Scouting went from an activity that kids wanted to join to something parents forced them into in order to check a block on the way to college.  

Most of us have felt this frustration.

Remember who you are dealing with... Teenagers do not have a fully developed prefrontal cortex.

That area of the brain is responsible for planning, goal setting, self control, evaluating risk, evaluating consequences, predicting outcomes, decision making, etc... all the things you and I struggled with as teens but may not remember well 😜

https://www.simplypsychology.org/prefrontal-cortex-development-age.html

For this reason, I often think the Scouting program is poorly designed.  The things they are supposed to do for a successful program do not seem to be in line with their natural capabilities in the age groups we are dealing with.

Now, there are always exceptions... from time to time, I come across a Scout who is really "switched on."  Here are some things I perceive as common denominators to those Scouts:

1.  Two parent family with strong religious values.

2. Extremely limited TV, computer, smartphone, and social media access up until about 15.

3.  Avid readers.  (Reading stimulates the imagination.  Screens and video "imagine" everything for you, so the brain gets lazy in that department.)

4.  Very limited involvement in sports.  Often a lot of involvement in music.  (Music is a language 😜 )

5.  Parents and Scout pick a few activities to be deeply involved in, instead of trying to do everything.

6.  Parents encourage adventure and acceptance of managed risk.

7.  Youth has much more free time than peers, and is allowed to self-select activities instead of having their day intensely scheduled.  And these self-selected activities are usually reading, music, or doing something outdoors.

Your mileage may vary.

There may be some other commonalities, but I'd have to think more about it... 

 So, as a Scouter, I see my purpose is to provide opportunity to do Scouting things.  More and more of late (over the past six or seven years), fewer and fewer Scouts take advantage of the opportunities we provide.  Fewer and fewer attend meetings, outings and overnighters.  We still work to provide the opportunities, but Scouting is less and less a popular activity with youth because it demands a lot of them to make the program work as designed.

I think this is why BP said a Troop should not be more than 16 youth.  Here's the excerpt from his Aids to Scoutmastership

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ONE REASON WHY A TROOP SHOULD NOT EXCEED 32

The number in a Troop should preferably not exceed thirty-two.  I suggest this number because in training boys myself I have found that sixteen was about as many as I could deal with-in getting at and bringing out the individual character in each.  I allow for other people being twice as capable as myself and hence the total of thirty-two.

Men talk of having fine Troops of 60 or even 100-and their leaders tell me that their boys are equally well trained as in smaller Troops.  I express admiration (“admiration” literally translated means “surprise”), and I don’t believe them.

“Why worry about individual training?” they ask.  Because it is the only way by which you can educate.  You can instruct any number of boys, a thousand at a time if you have a loud voice and attractive methods of disciplinary means.  But that is not training-it is not education.

Education is the thing that counts in building character and In making men.

The incentive to perfect himself, when properly instilled into the individual, brings about his active effort on the line most suitable to his temperament and powers.

It is not the slightest use to preach the Scout Law or to give it out as orders to a crowd of boys: each mind requires its special exposition of them and the ambition to carry them out.

That is where the personality and ability of the Scoutmaster come in.

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